5 Movies to Watch at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival

Synopsis: “On a pretty, placid little island in the Japanese countryside, Nishikita teaches physical education at the high school he himself attended.
 
The man is hardly an agent of change. He knows his place in the order of things and is careful not to rock the boat, perhaps even a little too much. When he receives a call from a former classmate Takagi, announcing her return, a flash of emotion strikes him.
 
Takagi was Nishikita’s best friend and unrequited first love, who had suddenly moved to Paris 10 years earlier to study. At the time, Takagi was constantly teasing him to shake him out of his torpor, and he notices that her attitude hasn’t changed in the slightest when they are reunited.
 
In fact, while in France she has only improved in the art of the retort, and Nishikita is still as bad at it as ever. He’ll have to get used to it, though, as the new teacher he’ll have to train is none other than the beautiful Takagi.”

Synopsis: “The world is about to end. Mars is humanities only hope. The mission is handed to two astronauts – Collins and Adams. They sit on the launchpad about to launch when suddenly Adams admits to Collins that he’s fluked his way through training and has no idea what he’s doing.
 
The two must grapple with the ide.a of taking off anyway and risking their lives, or delaying their mission and dooming earth forever”

Synopsis: Siwoo misses her father, and brings home a robot replica that looks just like him, with his memories programmed into it.
 
Even if her mother is opposed to the idea, she’ll do whatever it takes to prove her father is still out there, so they can all be a family again.”

Synopsis: “Jung-min helps run 98%, a fundraising organization that aims to help the disabled by collecting money from online broadcasting.
 
However, instead of giving it to the people who need it most, he keeps it for himself and viciously mistreats them. When the beautiful and deaf Eunhye becomes involved, resistance against Jung-min’s oppressive control begins.”

“Synopsis: With his distinctive head of luscious curls, college student Totonou Kuno always stands out in a crowd, though he probably wishes he didn’t. A loner at heart, he is considered strange and overly talkative, but his mind is sharp as a knife and his observation skills, unparalleled.
 
Which is why, while on a trip to Hiroshima, he doesn’t take long to notice the girl who’s been following him all day… but can’t hide his bewilderment when Shioji finally reveals her intentions: “Do you want a job? Money and lives are at stake,” she says.
 
Intrigued, Totonou is then swept into a complicated family mystery involving the inheritance of her late grandfather, who left behind a riddle for his heirs to solve.
 
For generations, the reputable Kariatsumari clan has repeatedly feuded over the estate; some members—including Shioji’s father—even dying in odd circumstances. Could this be her fate, too?
 
Based on an award-winning manga by Yumi Tamura, one of Japan’s most celebrated shojo artists and creator of the popular Basara and 7 Seeds franchises, DON’T CALL IT MYSTERY was first adapted into a 13-episode television drama in 2022.”